Our mentoring group is focusing on street photography, which all of us agree is one of the hardest of genres. We're discovering various definitions of street photography, how to think about b&w versus color, the role of people, and some mentor/models on the web that can help guide us. So far, I think it requires that it be a scene that tells a story or conveys a narrative in some way, is public and 'out there' but not literally on a street, may or may not have people in it. This week our assignment to ourselves was photograph street photography but without people. I just posted a collage with P3's narrative explaining the various images -
http://365project.org/taffy/365/2014-11-10 to help explain why I'll be erratic in participating on 365 for a bit.
Below is for my documentation purposes...no need for further reading, but for those who are curious...
The interior of our house -- the entire condo which consists of 2 units, 2 floors each -- will have to be gutted and rebuilt or restored due to fire, water, and smoke damage.
Many lessons learned:
1. this can happen to anyone
2. insurance matters and I'm so thankful we have it
3. if you are safe and healthy, everything else can be fixed or replaced and 'things' really don't matter as much
4. 'things' that are of value do not correlate with their cost -- most valuable things I'm worried about restoring are an album my dad maintained of photos and artifacts while serving in the Pacific in WWII; my teddy bear from when I was born, older than me since he'd belonged to my cousin; and for 'saving from the fire' my 365 toy penguin and Danbo (yes, ridiculous, but I did go in to get them once allowed to enter for just a few minutes)
5. I've always wondered what I would grab in this situation. Now I know...computer, hard drive, camera kit with lenses (so lucky lenses were all stored away in one bag and my camera was so handy), cell phone. Firefighter was kind enough to retrieve my glasses and bring them out.
6. Once in a fire, all things associated with plastic are dangerous because of the chemicals released by fire and heat -- much of what we have in our lives is associated with plastic!
7. Even if fire is contained, smoke destroys most of the rest. Water to put out fire also creates destruction.
8. I really understand what the firefighters in Trips 1 - 3 were trying to spare us. I wish it had worked. If they had done this to our house on the first call, I'd have been outraged, I suspect, thinking they were too aggressive. What a hard job they have!
...And many more lessons...glad to be able to sit in a hotel room and write a 365 narrative...it could have been so much worse! I will return to comment/post etc when I can until things settle into a new normal.
SO glad you came out of your ordeal unscathed, and glad you had insurance. Hang in there!
Hoping that the rebuilding is speedy.
We will be here when you back.
Great photo that tells a story.
On to the shot- great for documentation and probably helped to lessen the shock a bit as the "photographer" took over.
Like you, I was able to quickly gather clothes for a few days, computer hard drive with dissertation in progress, my son's life - to date - in photos, and I could walk away from the rest with no qualms bc I could only take what would fit in my car. I mentally reduced everything else to just possessions and they were all superfluous at that point. All were safe. No loss of life. That's truly what mattered most.
I'm sorry your loss has been greater. While I'm not sure HOW I could help, I'm only an hour away and am WILLING to help. I'm so glad you have an association and insurance. I'll continue to hold positive thoughts that each day is easier than the one before and that the process of rebuilding and re-entry all proceed as smoothly as possible.
Thinking of all the family photos and treasures I have stored in....plastic. Thank you for all that you pointed out in your narrative.